Scour Critical Bridges in Nebraska
962 bridges in Nebraska at risk from water erosion around foundations.
Scour Critical Bridges
Scour is the erosion of soil and rock around a bridge's foundation caused by moving water. When foundations are exposed or undermined, a bridge can collapse even if its deck and superstructure are in good condition. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the US. These 962 bridges in Nebraska have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELKHORN RIVER OVERFLOW | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1982 | 390 |
| COON CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 345 |
| STONE CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1963 | 330 |
| MILL CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 300 |
| WILSON CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 300 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 275 |
| SAND CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1962 | 260 |
| ELKHORN RIVER OVERFLOW | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 255 |
| ELKHORN RIVER | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1912 | 250 |
| BATTLE CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1978 | 250 |
| STREAM (J 138) | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 242 |
| SHERMAN RESERVOIR CANAL | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 240 |
| SALT CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 240 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 235 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 225 |
| SPRINGFIELD CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 225 |
| NORTH PLATTE RIVER | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2024 | 210 |
| CALLAHAN CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1974 | 210 |
| MUD CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1972 | 200 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1935 | 190 |
| TRIBUTARY TO BIG INDIAN | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 175 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 165 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 165 |
| OAK CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1981 | 160 |
| CRUM CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 155 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 150 |
| S FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1950 | 150 |
| DRY CREEK TRIB | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1968 | 145 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 145 |
| ASH HOLLOW CREEK (B 133) | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 144 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 140 |
| STREAM (C 250) | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1954 | 137 |
| STEVENS CREEK (Q 110) | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 2024 | 135 |
| MIDDLE LOUP RIVER | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1952 | 135 |
| TRI-COUNTY CANAL MP34.1 | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 135 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 130 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 130 |
| INDIAN CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 126 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1939 | 125 |
| WALLACE CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1930 | 125 |
| THIRTY MILE CANAL | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 125 |
| SOAP CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 125 |
| RED WILLOW CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1973 | 120 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1976 | 120 |
| SHEEP CREEK | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 120 |
| HOBSONS BRANCH | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 110 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 110 |
| ONEILL VALLEY | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 105 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 105 |
| STREAM | Nebraska | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1979 | 105 |
Scour Critical Rating Codes
| Code 2 — Unaddressed | Bridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken. |
| Code 3 — Countermeasures Installed | Protective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical. |
| Code 6 — Countermeasures Ineffective | Protective measures were installed but have been assessed as ineffective. The bridge requires re-evaluation and additional action. |
About Scour Critical Bridges
Scour critical bridges have been identified through underwater inspection or analysis as having foundations that are unstable or could become unstable during flood conditions. FHWA requires action plans for all scour critical bridges. Famous scour failures include the 1987 Schoharie Creek Bridge collapse in New York.